Lubricant Pump Auto-Coupling for Fast Radial Pump Unit Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricant pumps, particularly radial piston pumps, face challenges with pump unit installation and removal due to complex and error-prone processes, especially for units with mechanically controlled suction and pressure strokes, which can be difficult and time-consuming, and those with spring return mechanisms are prone to failure at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant pump design featuring a coupling mechanism with a latching connection that allows pump units to be easily inserted radially into the pump housing, eliminating the need for tilting and complex alignment, using a resilient latching connection that automatically engages when the pump unit is fully inserted, facilitating easier assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pump units are installed with mechanically controlled suction and pressure strokes by hooking into the piston eccentric ring, then the mechanical control reliability is improved, but the installation and removal process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the coupling mechanism into distinct components: a coupling element on the pump unit and a corresponding receptacle on the pump housing. This segmentation allows the pump unit to be independently installed or removed without affecting other components, enabling quick replacement while maintaining mechanical control reliability through the standardized coupling interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element and receptacle are pre-configured with alignment features and guide surfaces that automatically align the pump unit with the pump housing during insertion. This preliminary arrangement of coupling components ensures that the mechanically controlled suction and pressure strokes are properly established without requiring complex manual alignment or tilting operations during installation.
2Ease of operation
If pump units with spring return are used, then the installation process is simplified, but the reliability deteriorates due to spring fracture risk and incomplete piston return at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the spring-based return mechanism with a mechanically controlled system where the piston eccentric ring positively guides the piston through both suction and pressure strokes. This substitution eliminates the spring component entirely, removing the risk of spring fracture and ensuring reliable piston return at all temperatures while maintaining simple installation through the standardized coupling interface.
3Reliability
If pump units are tilted and aligned diagonally for installation, then the mechanical coupling with piston eccentric ring is achieved, but the installation process becomes error-prone and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the installation dimension from diagonal/tilted insertion to purely radial insertion. The coupling element and receptacle are designed with radial alignment features that guide the pump unit straight into position, eliminating the need for diagonal tilting and complex multi-dimensional alignment while ensuring reliable mechanical coupling between the piston and eccentric ring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies the mounting and dismounting of pump units, reducing errors and time required for installation and maintenance, while ensuring reliable operation by eliminating the risk of spring failure and providing a secure, automatic coupling mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
using a resilient latching connection that automatically engages when the pump unit is fully inserted
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant pump for conveying lubricant from a lubricant reservoir to a pump outlet includes a pump housing with a longitudinal axis. The pump housing has a receiving opening for a pump unit, a lubricant inlet opening and a lubricant outlet opening opening into the receiving opening, a pump drive, and a pump unit with a reciprocatingly movable delivery piston. The pump unit has a suction opening, which corresponds with the lubricant outlet opening when the pump unit is inserted into the receiving opening, and an outlet opening for lubricant. A coupling mechanism for driving the at least one pump unit includes an eccentric element which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, a drive-side coupling section connected to the eccentric element, and a pump-side coupling section. The drive-side coupling section and the pump-side coupling section can be connected to one another automatically via a resilient latching connection.